A fire broke out at the Tramways bar on West Street in Wells yesterday afternoon, prompting a swift response from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, with crews arriving at the scene shortly after the fire was reported at around 2:26 PM.

Smoke was seen billowing from the single-storey building, leading to multiple calls to emergency services.

Firefighters equipped with breathing apparatus and hose reels tackled the blaze, which initially started in the bar area and quickly spread to the roof. Additional resources were called as the fire intensified, with a total of four pumps eventually on site to control the flames.

By 3:48 PM, fire crews had made significant progress, focusing on cooling hot spots to prevent any flare-ups.

An on-scene police officer confirmed by 5:44 PM that the fire had been put out, although emergency services continued their investigative and safety checks into the evening.

The road adjacent to the Tramways, Tucker Street, was closed by police to facilitate emergency response and ensure public safety.

In a Facebook post, the Tramways wrote: "It's with sadness that due to an Intensive fire, the Tramways will be closed temporarily. We will keep the members informed of any updates. We hope to be trading again as soon as we possibly can and we thank everyone for their kind messages."

As investigations continue into the cause of the fire, both Avon and Somerset Police and the Fire and Rescue Service are working to determine the circumstances leading up to the incident.